Matthew the apostle wrote, “Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will you that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will you that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate said unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil has he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified”, and in chapter twenty-seven and verse twenty-four of his book, Matthew wrote, “when Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing … he took water, and washed his hands” where we read:
When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see you to it.
The verse reads, “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, ...” Matthew began words, “when Pilate” which means “at the time and moment Pilate whose name means armed with a spear and was the sixth Roman procurator of Judah and Samaria who ordered Christ to be crucified” “saw” or “perceived, understood, noticed and discerned” “that he could prevail nothing” which means “that Pilate himself was not able profit, be useful or gain better”, “but that rather” which means “moreover to a greater degree, by far, more willingly, readily and sooner” “a tumult was made” which means “a noise, clamor, disturbance and uproar came into existence and arose”, “he took water” or “Pilate lay hold of and procured water”, “and washed his hands” which means “and cleansed or washed off from Pilate's own hands”, “before the multitude” or “in front of and in the presence of the crowd of people”. Matthew shared how Pilate could not convince the crowd to change their mind about Jesus, but rather than persuade them, the crowd yelled louder, so he “washed his hands” in their presence.
The verse goes on to say, “... saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see you to it.” Matthew continued with the word, “saying” or “uttering, declaring and proclaiming”, “I am innocent” which means “I, myself, Pilate and not guilty” “of the blood” or “pertaining to the bloodshed” “of this just person” which means “belonging to this righteous and virtuous man”: “see you to it” or “the multitude was to carrying out crucifying Jesus to death”. Matthew shared how Pilate declared that he was personally “not guilty” of the “bloodshed” of Jesus as he sought to transfer the blame to the crowd.
When we consider Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the “multitude” was more persuasive to Pilate than he was with them. The crowd prevailed, and Pilate publicly “washed his hands” and claimed no responsibility for Jesus' death. Regardless of his words, Pilate ultimately made the decision and so does every person who reads these words. Washing one's hands and making declarations about not having blame or responsibility for Jesus' death does not exempt anyone from the guilt of their “sins”. God loves people, and His desire is to save them from their sins so they might live with Him forever. Those who are wise will yield their lives to Jesus Christ as they understand He died for them and desires to give them “new life” in God.
Next time Matthew wrote how, “all the people” “answered, and said”, “His blood be on us, and on our children”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
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Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
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